Published: 12:00 AM, 27 February 2017
SL series an opportunity for Tigers
Mustafiz back in the squad
Bangladesh Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim addresses a press conference in Dhaka on Sunday, ahead of a series in Sri Lanka. -AFP Bangladesh Test captain, Mushfiqur Rahim sounded optimistic giving his view about forthcoming Test series against Sri Lanka with pace sensation Mustafizur Rahman back in the team.
Bangladesh Test captain, Mushfiqur Rahim, has described the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka as an opportunity for the Tigers to perform well away from home, reports BSS. "We are all looking forward. Everything depends on if we can play to our true potentials, said Mushfiqur at a press conference on Sunday at the Sher-e- Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
With Mustafizur Rahman back in the team, the skipper believes that the current bowling attack could very well be one of Bangladesh's strongest. "Every series is an opportunity. There's no doubt about that. And this time, they don't have their best cricketers, who have served them for so long, with them. Angelo Mathews will also not be there. But this is their home ground and we must remember that."
"Yes, they will be under pressure because they know we are more matured and we are playing better cricket, so yes, there is an opportunity, but that depends upon how well we can play." "Our coaching staff has many Sri Lankans. We have managed to gather plenty of information from them. Hopefully we can used it and get positive resultsl," he added.
Bangladesh captain was wishful about his bowling attack should do better in Sri Lanka in comparison to the last few series abroad. " My team is extremely blessed to have likes of Mustafizur, Mehedi Hasan and Shakib in the same eleven, is always a big strength. They are really skilful and can challenge any batsmen.
We played three Tests prior to this series and we are playing our fourth Test. This is going to be good for our preparation. Everything is going good at the moment, but a lot will depend on how we begin the series," said Tiger skipper.
Diminutive skipper taking about the recent debate whether he should keep the wicket or play as a batsman since his pathetic keeping in the one-off test in India. When asked if he enjoyed doing the dual role, he said: "I definitely enjoy and always ready to help my team in every capacity. Whether I will keep or not, is a decision that the coach and the management can take. I think I am most useful to my team as a keeper-batsman. If the management thinks otherwise, then they can take a decision."
The Sri Lankan tour of the Bangladesh team would be looked at with a great deal of anticipation and expectation since this would perhaps be the first time when Bangladesh team would be facing a full fledged test team of equal strength.
Former National opener Ishtiaque Ahmad said, " Without trying to undermine the Sri Lankan team of present times it can surely be said with some degree of certainty that the absence of Mahela Jayawardena, Kumara Sangakara, Dilshan Tilekaratne and even the gradually declining effectiveness of Lasith Malinga has taken away the dominant flavour that the team exuded previously.
The present crop of players will have everything to play for albeit lacking in a combined experience of their main players given that their opponents have gathered considerable experience at this level which makes the tussle between the two sides quite exciting in prospect.
Mushfiqur Rahims double century will be fresh on his mind as it was with Mohammad Ashraful that they managed to put up a score in excess of 600 runs and was able to end the series on a satisfying note.
Even though some of the seniors have gathered a great deal of experience and confidence since the last time the two sides met and it was more in the one dayers that Bangladesh have established themselves as world beaters and it has been the contributions of the senior players especially that has set the tempo.
The emergence of new comers like the hard hitting Shabbir Rahman, the sensational Mustafizur Rahman, the graceful and stroke filled Soumya Sarkar and the wiles and guiles of Mehdi Hasan the young off spinner and the young Speedsters Taskin Ahmed and Kamrul Islam Rabbi has indeed made the Bangladesh side a great deal more exciting and potent in its approach
Bangladesh Test captain, Mushfiqur Rahim, has described the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka as an opportunity for the Tigers to perform well away from home, reports BSS. "We are all looking forward. Everything depends on if we can play to our true potentials, said Mushfiqur at a press conference on Sunday at the Sher-e- Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Mirpur.
With Mustafizur Rahman back in the team, the skipper believes that the current bowling attack could very well be one of Bangladesh's strongest. "Every series is an opportunity. There's no doubt about that. And this time, they don't have their best cricketers, who have served them for so long, with them. Angelo Mathews will also not be there. But this is their home ground and we must remember that."
"Yes, they will be under pressure because they know we are more matured and we are playing better cricket, so yes, there is an opportunity, but that depends upon how well we can play." "Our coaching staff has many Sri Lankans. We have managed to gather plenty of information from them. Hopefully we can used it and get positive resultsl," he added.
Bangladesh captain was wishful about his bowling attack should do better in Sri Lanka in comparison to the last few series abroad. " My team is extremely blessed to have likes of Mustafizur, Mehedi Hasan and Shakib in the same eleven, is always a big strength. They are really skilful and can challenge any batsmen.
We played three Tests prior to this series and we are playing our fourth Test. This is going to be good for our preparation. Everything is going good at the moment, but a lot will depend on how we begin the series," said Tiger skipper.
Diminutive skipper taking about the recent debate whether he should keep the wicket or play as a batsman since his pathetic keeping in the one-off test in India. When asked if he enjoyed doing the dual role, he said: "I definitely enjoy and always ready to help my team in every capacity. Whether I will keep or not, is a decision that the coach and the management can take. I think I am most useful to my team as a keeper-batsman. If the management thinks otherwise, then they can take a decision."
The Sri Lankan tour of the Bangladesh team would be looked at with a great deal of anticipation and expectation since this would perhaps be the first time when Bangladesh team would be facing a full fledged test team of equal strength.
Former National opener Ishtiaque Ahmad said, " Without trying to undermine the Sri Lankan team of present times it can surely be said with some degree of certainty that the absence of Mahela Jayawardena, Kumara Sangakara, Dilshan Tilekaratne and even the gradually declining effectiveness of Lasith Malinga has taken away the dominant flavour that the team exuded previously.
The present crop of players will have everything to play for albeit lacking in a combined experience of their main players given that their opponents have gathered considerable experience at this level which makes the tussle between the two sides quite exciting in prospect.
Mushfiqur Rahims double century will be fresh on his mind as it was with Mohammad Ashraful that they managed to put up a score in excess of 600 runs and was able to end the series on a satisfying note.
Even though some of the seniors have gathered a great deal of experience and confidence since the last time the two sides met and it was more in the one dayers that Bangladesh have established themselves as world beaters and it has been the contributions of the senior players especially that has set the tempo.
The emergence of new comers like the hard hitting Shabbir Rahman, the sensational Mustafizur Rahman, the graceful and stroke filled Soumya Sarkar and the wiles and guiles of Mehdi Hasan the young off spinner and the young Speedsters Taskin Ahmed and Kamrul Islam Rabbi has indeed made the Bangladesh side a great deal more exciting and potent in its approach
